Multifactorial causes of an emaciated wild Lutjanus erythropterus in Oman

Postmortem examination of a wild Lutjanus erythropterus exhibiting emaciation associated to multifactorial causes is presented. Skeletal muscle analysis for heavy metals revealed presence of threefold Cadmium concentration in comparison with the European standards. Multifocal necrosis and muscle atrophy (condition factor K = 0.92) were also noted. Other anomalies recorded included abdominal distension and bilateral sunken eyes. The liver showed scant vacuolation, melano-macrophage centres and diffuse granulomatous lesions also occurring in the viscera and mesenteries. Intensity of infection varied from 2 to 9 parasites. While 16S rRNA sequences revealed the opportunistic pathogen Photobacterium damselae complex only in affected organs. This is the first record of non-aetiologic and aetiologic factors occurring concurrently in a wild fish of Oman. Although no definitive conclusions can be drawn, these findings remark the urgent need for further fish health assessment associating these pathologies and other diseases that pose a health risk to other fish species.